Changes

==Service==

==Service==

[[Image:F-18_takeoff.jpg‎|thumb|200px|right|An F/A-18 launches in afterburner.]]

[[Image:F-18_takeoff.jpg‎|thumb|200px|right|An F/A-18 launches in afterburner.]]

The first F/A-18 Hornet went into service with the [[Marine Corps]] in 1983 and with the Navy the same year. In 1986, the [[Blue Angels]] replaced the [[A-4 Skyhawk]] with the F-18. The Hornet saw its first combat on its first carrier deployment, in 1986.  Hornets flying from the USS ''Coral Sea'' provided fighter cover for ships and planes off the coast of [[Libya]], and during Operation El Dorado Canyon, F/A-18s supported the US Navy strikes by attacking Libyan radars.<ref>[http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_358.shtml Libyan Wars, 1980-1989]</ref>

The first F/A-18 Hornet went into service with the [[Marine Corps]] in 1983 and with the Navy the same year. In 1986, the [[Blue Angels]] replaced the [[A-4 Skyhawk]] with the F-18. The Hornet saw its first combat on its first carrier deployment, in 1986.  Hornets flying from the USS ''Coral Sea'' provided fighter cover for ships and planes off the coast of [[Libya]], and during [[Operation El Dorado Canyon]], F/A-18s supported the US Navy strikes by attacking Libyan radars.<ref>[http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_358.shtml Libyan Wars, 1980-1989]</ref>

Hornets saw extensive use in the [[Gulf War]], being mostly used as ground attack aircraft.  On one such mission, however, two Hornet pilots from the USS ''Saratoga'' shot down two [[MiG-21]]s, scoring the first (and so far, only) air-to-air victories for the jet.  After downing the Migs, the two pilots completed their attack mission, dropping their bombs on an Iraqi airfield.<ref>[http://www.mdc.com/defense-space/military/fa18/fa18_milestones.htm F/A-18 Hornet Milestones]</ref>

Hornets saw extensive use in the [[Gulf War]], being mostly used as ground attack aircraft.  On one such mission, however, two Hornet pilots from the USS ''Saratoga'' shot down two [[MiG-21]]s, scoring the first (and so far, only) air-to-air victories for the jet.  After downing the MiGs, the two pilots completed their attack mission, dropping their bombs on an Iraqi airfield.<ref>[http://www.mdc.com/defense-space/military/fa18/fa18_milestones.htm F/A-18 Hornet Milestones]</ref>

On the early morning of January 17,1991, another Hornet from the ''Saratoga'' became the first Allied loss of the war when it was shot down while attacking an airfield.  The pilot, Lt. Commander Michael Speicher, went down with his plane, the first fatality of the Gulf War.<ref>''Desert Storm: Air War'', by Robert F. Dorr, Motorbooks International, 1991</ref>  The cause was initially thought to have been anti-aircraft fire, but more recent sources suggest that the plane was downed by an Iraqi [[MiG-25]], which would make this the only air-to-air victory of the Iraqi air force during the war and the first time since the [[Vietnam War]] that America had lost an airplane in aerial combat.<ref>[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9800E6DF1739F937A25751C1A963958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=1 A U.S. Team Seeks War Pilot’s Body]</ref><ref>[http://archives.cnn.com/2001/US/01/14/gulf.war.pilot.01/ Missing U.S. Pilot Dead, Iraq Insists]</ref>

On the early morning of January 17,1991, another Hornet from the ''Saratoga'' became the first Allied loss of the war when it was shot down while attacking an airfield.  The pilot, Lt. Commander Michael Speicher, went down with his plane, the first fatality of the Gulf War.<ref>''Desert Storm: Air War'', by Robert F. Dorr, Motorbooks International, 1991</ref>  The cause was initially thought to have been anti-aircraft fire, but more recent sources suggest that the plane was downed by an Iraqi [[MiG-25]], which would make this the only air-to-air victory of the Iraqi air force during the war and the first time since the [[Vietnam War]] that America had lost an airplane in aerial combat.<ref>[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9800E6DF1739F937A25751C1A963958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=1 A U.S. Team Seeks War Pilot’s Body]</ref><ref>[http://archives.cnn.com/2001/US/01/14/gulf.war.pilot.01/ Missing U.S. Pilot Dead, Iraq Insists]</ref>

F/A-18s also saw service over the former republic of [[Yugoslavia]] in the 1990s and in Operation Desert Fox over Iraq in 1998.<ref>[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/desert_fox_orbat_981216.htm Operation Desert Fox Order of Battle]</ref>  Early in [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]], one Hornet was lost in a [[friendly fire]] incident involving a [[MIM-104 Patriot|Patriot missile]] battery.<ref>[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_20030422/ai_n14548094 Friendly fire toll raises concerns about Patriot]</ref>  Two others, both Super Hornets, were lost in a mid-air collision over the [[Persian Gulf]] in January 2008.<ref>[http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/01/07/world/main3683082.shtml 2 Navy Fighter Jets Crash in Persian Gulf]</ref>

F/A-18s also saw service over the former republic of [[Yugoslavia]] in the 1990s and in [[Operation Desert Fox]] over Iraq in 1998.<ref>[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/desert_fox_orbat_981216.htm Operation Desert Fox Order of Battle]</ref>  Early in [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]], one Hornet was lost in a [[friendly fire]] incident involving a [[MIM-104 Patriot|Patriot missile]] battery.<ref>[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_20030422/ai_n14548094 Friendly fire toll raises concerns about Patriot]</ref>  Two others, both Super Hornets, were lost in a mid-air collision over the [[Persian Gulf]] in January 2008.<ref>[http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/01/07/world/main3683082.shtml 2 Navy Fighter Jets Crash in Persian Gulf]</ref>

Currently, F/A-18 Hornets are operating in 37 tactical squadrons and from 10 aircraft carriers.

Currently, F/A-18 Hornets are operating in 37 tactical squadrons and from 10 aircraft carriers.

[[Image:Flag_of_Spain.png|24px]]

[[Image:Flag_of_Spain.png|24px]]

[[Spain]] ordered 72 Hornets, and the first was delivered in 1986.  Thirty more ex-Navy machines were acquired in 1996.  Spanish Hornets saw action in operations over Bosnia and Kosovo.  

[[Spain]] ordered 72 Hornets, and the first was delivered in 1986.  Thirty more ex-Navy machines were acquired in 1996.  Spanish Hornets saw action in operations over Bosnia and [[Kosovo]].  

===Kuwait===  

===Kuwait===  

[[Image:Flag_of_Kuwait.png|28px]]

[[Image:Flag_of_Kuwait.png|28px]]

[[Kuwait]] ordered Hornets before the Gulf War to replace its aging [[A-4 Skyhawk|Skyhawks]] and Mirages, but delivery was delayed due to the Iraqi occupation.  The first ones arrived in early 1992, and Kuwait eventually bought 40 of them, which outfit one air defense and one attack squadron.

[[Kuwait]] ordered Hornets before the Gulf War to replace its aging [[A-4 Skyhawk|Skyhawks]] and [[Dassault Mirage F1|Mirages]], but delivery was delayed due to the [[Invasion of Kuwait|Iraqi occupation]].  The first ones arrived in early 1992, and Kuwait eventually bought 40 of them, which outfit one air defense and one attack squadron.

===Finland===  

===Finland===  

==The F/A-18 in Popular Culture==

==The F/A-18 in Popular Culture==

The Hornet is frequently seen in military-themed novels, including [[Tom Clancy]]'s ''Red Storm Rising''.  The F-18 had a starring role in the blockbuster movie ''[[Independence Day (film)|Independence Day]]'', and appeared briefly in the [[anime]] [[Area 88]].

The Hornet is frequently seen in military-themed novels, including [[Tom Clancy]]'s ''Red Storm Rising''.  The F-18 had a starring role in the blockbuster movie ''[[Independence Day (film)|Independence Day]]'', and appeared briefly in the [[anime]] ''[[Area 88]].''

==References==

==References==

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[[category:aircraft]]

[[category:aircraft]]

[[category: United States Navy]]

[[category: United States Navy]]